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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of death among those with HIV. Now, researchers are saying improvement in TB prevention is crucial.
Researchers say that the most important factor is diagnosing and treating TB early. Therefore, they recommend early TB screening for HIV patients and household members. Other preventive measure include an increase TB case finding, incorporate TB treatment into HIV treatment programs, using isoniazid therapy on HIV patients without TB and using antiretroviral therapy in the earliest stages before immune systems are seriously damaged.
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TB poses a serious problem because of its increasing resistance to drug treatment and lack of resources and areas to treat tuberculosis patients.
"HIV Programs have no option but to address TB vigorously to save patient lives, safeguard the massive investment in HIV treatment, and to curb the global TB burden," Diane V. Havlir, M.D., chief of UCSF's HIV/AIDS Division at San Francisco General Hospital's Positive Health Program, was quoted as saying.
Currently, many more TB clinics exist than HIV clinics. HIV patients will often be treated for TB and HIV in TB clinics before they know they have HIV. Experts say combining HIV and TB care could help to speed up the HIV caring process.
Additional prevention methods such as HIV inpatient and outpatient care to reduce the chances of tuberculosis spreading and tracking the TB epidemic through careful recording can seriously help HIV patients. An increased level of consciousness and joint HIV and TB care could make a difference in the lives of millions of patients.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
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